title: Experimentally nonylphenol-polluted diet induces the expression of silent genes VTG and ERα in the liver of male lizard Podarcis sicula.
abstract: Endocrine Disruptor Chemicals (EDCs) with estrogen-like properties i.e nonylphenol (NP) induce vitellogenin (VTG) synthesis in males of aquatic and semi-aquatic species. In the oviparous species VTG is a female-specific oestrogen dependent protein. Males are unable to synthesize VTG except after E2 treatment. This study aimed to verify if NP, administered via food and water, is able to induce the expression of VTG even in males of vertebrates with a terrestrial habitat such as the lizard Podarcis. By means of ICC, ISH, W/B and ELISA we demonstrated that NP induces the presence of VTG in the plasma and its expression in the liver. VTG, undetectable in untreated males, reaches the value of 4.34 μg/μl in the experimental ones. Expression analysis and ISH in the liver showed that an NP-polluted diet also elicits the expression of ERα in the liver which is known to be related to VTG synthesis in Podarcis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Evolutionary and Comparative Biology Division, University Federico II of Naples, Via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariailaria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verderame
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prisco
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andreuccetti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aniello
authors.forename: Ermelinda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Limatola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008116:Lizards / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity*; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D010636:Phenols; D014819:Vitellogenins; C025256:nonylphenol